Formally, this is a 4 1/2 star read for me.

This was such a fun play on Legally Blonde but I'm really happy it didn't follow the storyline to the script. Really I'd say the first half strongly resembles the basic plot points, but in the second half it really blossomed as its own original work.
I gotta say, I was expecting something really light and fun, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of plot.
Also pleasantly surprised that it feels like we're going to get a sequel!? I'm way too excited. I want more content for my dorky lovers, Clìa and Ronan!!
Please please please let them have the fluffiest wedding ever, I need that. 😅

I enjoyed reading this book. The pacing was fast and kept my attention, and the plot kept me wanting to know what happened next. The FMC was like an Elle Woods from Legally Blonde but make it warrior camp instead of law school. The premise was intriguing, but there could have been a little more effort into making the inactive teen princess becoming a hardened warrior in so little time more believable. That criticism aside, the romantic tension was very well written. The characters were unique and likeable. I enjoyed the writing style as well. Overall, this was a fun read!

I really really tried to like and finish this but ultimately I don’t think I found myself caring much for any of the characters.

I was really quite hung up on the YA-ness of this since I didn’t really understand why Ronan had to be 19 (especially given the cover…?) and for some reason it felt like the fantasy elements were very like half-baked despite being far too descriptive to ever really pay off or have any true importance to how the rest of the story would unfold. I just got the vibes that the author wanted to write a series and none of the world-building seemed strong enough at all to really support that or even this one story, that just felt like a beat for beat retelling of Legally Blonde with more shoed-in fantasy and far less fun.

The truth is I probably could’ve finished it but I was worried that I would’ve done all that to reach the same conclusion in the end and I’m trying this new thing where I don’t spend time reading books I’m not 100% enjoying

Thank you nonetheless to netgalley and avon & harper voyager for this arc to review!

3.75

Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs was a really fun and cute read. I loved Ronan and Clía together. They had so much chemistry and honestly, they made my heart flutter a few times. Ronan being all serious and focused while Clía came in trying to prove herself was such a good dynamic. I couldn’t get enough of their scenes.

The only thing that bugged me was how often Clía pulled away from Ronan. I get why she did it, and it made sense for her character, but it still annoyed me a little. I just wanted her to let herself be happy too.

What I really liked though was that the romance wasn’t the main focus of the story. The book was more about Clía growing into her own and becoming a warrior for her kingdom, not just for a guy. I loved seeing her mindset change throughout the story. She started off trying to win Domhnall back, but in the end, it was more about doing it for herself and her people. That made her feel like such a strong character.

There were some funny parts too, and Clía’s pet (kind of like an otter?) was adorable. I really hope there’s a second book. I want more of Clía and Ronan’s relationship and I definitely want to see how the war stuff plays out.

The Princess Knight
by: Cait Jacobs

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I may have squealed when I got approved for this book; when I first heard about it, I knew I had to get my hands on this book! The Princess Knight is a story about a princess who is determined to win back her betrothed by following him to a training academy for knights. This was pitched as Legally Blonde but with knights, and it did not disappoint!

I immediately fell for Clia and Ronan. Both of them are deeply flawed but so incredibly lovable and human. I found myself really rooting for each of them! The overall story was good and ended tied up well, but in a way that the author can definitely continue the story if they want too!

One thing to note: The world itself is deeply rooted in Irish folklore, which results in a lot of hard to pronounce words. I found myself struggling, and would love to do an audio read of this one!

This book is a must read if you like:
👑 Feminine and Fashion Loving FMC
🗡️ Dual POV
👑 Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🗡️ Political Intrigue
👑 Queer Normative World

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and Avon Books for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Princess Knight, originally titled Medievally Blonde, read like a coming-of-age YA fantasy novel, and less like an adult fantasy novel to me. Many of our characters were on journies to find their own identities, their own values, and their own paths. They were moving from positions with little power or admiration into roles of queens and knights. They were all incredibly young and (mostly) untested and, combined with the academic setting and lack of open door scenes, this just didn’t feel like an adult fantasy. However, I appreciated many of the common themes throughout. Overall this was just a 3 star for me, but a very solid debut and worth a read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital arc of this book. I was unfortunately left a bit underwhelmed by this book. I loved the idea, main character, loved Ronan, but found myself putting it down for long periods of time and not wanting to pick it up again. I will definitely try reading again after the publication date but until then it wasn’t my favorite.

I was a little hesitant about this book during the first few chapters. I didn’t love some of the female main character’s characteristics or thought processes. She was very stereotypical princess who spends her days at court. However, as the story progressed I ended up really enjoying her character and the strength she showed without losing her femininity. She also showed that there is strength in being clever and intelligent without a sword or violence. I think my favorite part of this book was the way representation was done. One of the main characters deals with chronic pain and the way it was acknowledged and a part of who they were was well done. There were also many queer characters within the plot line that were well fleshed out and not just thrown in. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and getting to know the characters. I think the story line was fun to read with good plot twists and set up nice for a sequel! I would rate it a 3.5 or 4 star read.

I was really interested in the idea of a spoiled princess who subverts expectations to become a knight but while this was certainly enjoyable, I’m not sure if it lived up to what I was expecting.

✔ Clia got a much deeper arc of growth than I was initially expecting from the synopsis. I was really intrigued to see her grow not only in fighting ability but also in depth of character. She feels so much fuller and grounded as a character by the end.
✔ I was expecting semi-cozy vibes, which were achieved at times, but the story also delivered a very emotional journey for the characters which was great.
✔ The disability rep in such a well-renowned soldier/knight was really appreciated.

✖ I’m not quite sure if Clia lived up to what I was hoping. When I see underdog characters, I typically expect them to have a weakness, but learn to get around said weakness using their other talents. Clia just trained through her weaknesses and got a magical sword which feels a bit lacklustre. I was also really hoping her interest in sewing would play a much larger part than it did, but alas.
✖ Similarly, I think I was also expecting an adult fantasy from this book but it reads very upper YA, which was a bit odd for me.
✖ Similarly x2, I think I got something like romcom x fantasy knights from the description but there was very little of the romcom I was expecting.

I enjoyed the read overall, I just wanted a bit more out of its potential.

3.5/5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5
The Princess Knight was a story about self discovery and finding strength in yourself. It follows princess Clia as she leaves her home to attend a military academy to prove to her would have been betrothed Domhnall that she is stronger than she seems. There she forms an unexpected friendship with his captain of the guard Ronan as he helps her train. There is political intrigue, new friendships and betrayals. Also disability rep and a queernorm world are a big part of the story. I liked the character growth that Clia went through, she grew more confident while still being true to herself.

With that being said I think the tricky thing with comparing your work to a well know and loved story such as Legally Blonde sets it up to bring a lot of expectations to the readers. The overall concept was done well but the characterizations, specially of Clia, didn't measure up in my opinion. Yes Clia loves fashion and nice things but Elle has such a bubbly and outgoing personality that made think of Clia as a bit boring. I also expected this book to be lighthearted with more humor and it was more on the serious and emotional side. This being the authors debut story I think it was a great start and am looking to the how they develop their writing and style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Princess Knight surprised me in the best way. I went into it expecting a lighthearted fantasy rom-com, especially given the Legally Blonde comparison and while it definitely had moments of charm, it was much deeper and more emotional than I anticipated!!

I loved that Ronan was a disability rep and absolutely stole my heart!

Clía’s journey is all about reclaiming her agency. What begins as an act of spite against an arrogant prince (Domhnall, is the worst!) becomes a much more personal and empowering path.
Her slow burn romance with Ronan is full of mutual respect and was honestly the emotional core of the book!!
Their communication and support for each other is so rare!

Was it the fun, quick fantasy I expected? Not quite. It leaned more into grief, and growth… but it worked.
So, If you’re looking for a romance with grit, training, healthy love, and just the right amount of pining (plus an adorable otter-creature named Murphy), this one’s worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I'll start with what worked for me about this book: I loved, loved, loved the disability rep and queernormative world! I also loved that the author didn't anglicize Irish names. That said: The Princess Knight was not at all what I was expecting. Based on the premise and everything I'd heard about it, I was anticipating a fun fantasy rom com, so I was startled that this is not a humorous or particularly lighthearted book. Which was a pretty odd experience for a Legally Blonde retelling, even one set against the backdrop of training for war.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

"'Do you think the gods watch over us? Or do they think us fools to worship uncaring beings?' Snow had begun to fall again as Domhnall spoke."

The Princess Knight is everything I could've ever wanted in a romance novel. Princess Clía is set to marry Prince Domhnall from birth. That had been her thought-out life. Not her dream—but her life.

Everything gets turned upside down when he calls off their proposal, claiming that she's nothing more than a pretty face. He needed a strong warrior for a wife, someone who could protect his kingdom.

Clía's nothing if not spiteful, so what does she do? She follows Domhnall directly back to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he's attending. She will become a well-respected warrior, prove her worth, then they'll get married and live happily ever after.

"The thud of the book tumbling off the table forced Ronan to look back up at the prince, who stood beside the wreckage—a picture of innocence. The man was worse than a cat."

Except... she finally sees Domhnall for who he is. Meet Ronan. A knight with chronic pain and a heart of gold. He begins training Clía under the pretense of helping her meet her goal, though it's just to get a little closer to her.

Her time with Ronan has her realizing that she'd never once really done what she'd wanted to do. Had she ever really wanted Domhnall? Or was that what she thought she needed to do for both of their kingdoms?

"Ronan's hands softly caressed the small patch of skin on her ankle that peeked out from beneath the blanket. His callouses were rough, but she didn't mind. It reminded her of the mornings they spent earning them."

Ronan and Clía are so gentle with each other—and healthy. Even with their moments of push-and-pull, they talk things out. It was so refreshing to read about.

The Princess Knight was perfect. I loved the slow burn. It has friends to lovers, training arcs, pining, and angst. And when I say angst, I mean angst. I was ugly crying. I also feel as though I must mention her pet Murphy... an otter-like creature. I would die for him, wholeheartedly.

This book has gone above and beyond in exceeding my expectations, and Clía and Ronan hold a special and tender place in my heart. A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved this one so much.

DNFed at 30%
2.5 stars rounded to 3

The Princess Knight, previously Medievally Blonde, is a Legally Blonde retelling with knights instead of lawyers. For a book with such an unserious premise, I was expecting a fun, lighthearted romcom. Instead, The Princess Knight is neither fun, nor romantic, nor a comedy. It is a rather dry, bland fantasy novel. The prose is rife with redundancies, with no discernible tone. It reads nearly like stage direction at points. Much of the dialogue is cliched. The characters themselves all sound alike, and behave alike, and we are only directly told distinguishing characteristics in the narration. The worldbuilding feels paper-thin. This read like more of a draft than a finished novel. I had high hopes for this novel, so I was trying to give it the proper chance and finish it, but ultimately it was too boring for me to slog through more than 30% of it. I might revisit the author's work in the future, but for now, The Princess Knight was not for me.

First, I’d like to say feel honored to be able to review this book prior to publication. Some of the positives: the world building didn’t take a large portion of the beginning, it was clear and imaginative. I became invested in the MFC and wanted to see her have a positive outcome. Negative: the title and cover page. I’m not sure I would choose this off the shelf , it appeared more juvenile than it is.
All that being said, I have high hopes that Cait will continue this story. I really want to know how the characters develop and what happens in their kingdoms.

This sounded very interesting from the go, but fell a little flat for me.

I can't say I actually cared about any of the characters or their relationships. It was more YA than I expected. I think that'd what threw it all for me.

There's a lot of potential, it just wasn't the one for me.

THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!! Really more like a 4.5.

when I heard that this book was a take on legally blonde, I was immediately sold, and I was NOT disappointed.

The foundation of the movie was still there, and the plot of this book did follow the same sort of plot points that the movie does, but in a completely different setting with different stakes, different motivations, and more nuance. Because it follows the same basic formula of the movie, the plot is a bit predictable if you have seen the movie, but there were still things that took me by surprise and choices for characters that differ from the movie that I found to be extremely satisfying.

I also really loved that this wasn’t necessarily an enemies to lovers situation, and I loved how down bad the MMC was for the FMC almost immediately. There was yearning at extreme levels, which I love to see, and the main character characters had a really lovely arc from strangers to friends to lovers that lacked any toxicity and was really just a beautiful representation of love against all odds. And they weren’t without their challenges with the FMC being a princess from a neighboring country and the MMC being the captain of the guard to the prince that the FMC was originally supposed to betrothed to, and you do see these characters grapple with that throughout the book, but sometimes love is more important than duty.

I thought the writing of this book was great. I didn’t feel like any points were being made too often or to too repetitively, which is usually something that bothers me so I was glad not to see that happen here. And I love a dual POV so that was great. And for what I believe is a standalone, I thought the pacing was great for the most part. They really spend their time setting up the thick of the action, and then spend a good amount of time in that action leading up to the inevitable conflict of the plot, as well as build a realistic romance between the main characters.

My only issue is that the ending is left quite open and I feel like this could’ve been a duology. And if you know me, you know I don’t even really like duologies much, but I think this could’ve benefited as being one because there was a lot more that I think could be done with certain aspects of the gods in this book as well as the openness of the end of the main plot. I’m really hoping that we’ll get another book but if we don’t, it was still a nice ending and I would implore anybody who is a lover of romantic and legally blonde to give this a read when it’s out!!


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy to review!!

Okay, I need a moment (or a hundred) to recover from this book because WOW — The Princess Knight gave me everything I needed and more. The vibes? Immaculate. The CHRONIC PAIN and AUTISTIC rep??? Chef’s kiss. I genuinely feel so seen. As an autistic reader, my heart is SO full — the subtle, realistic representation was beautiful without turning the character into a stereotype or side plot. I want to cry happy tears. This was so refreshing especially considering everything politically going on for the autistic community.

Let’s talk about the plot: a pink-loving, determined princess enrolls in a brutal knight academy to win back her betrothed but ends up finding her own path instead. I LOVE character growth and development around here! It’s giving legally blondes and lowkey some mulanish vibes. Watching her go from pampered royal to battle-scarred knight had me cheering like I was in the arena with her.

Also, Ronan? New book boyfriend unlocked. Their connection had me kicking my feet and squealing. That yearning!! That softness!!

This book is like a warm hug wrapped in steel armor — fierce, tender, and unforgettable. Run, don’t walk. I will be yelling about this book until the end of time. Medievally Blonde supremacy forever!!!

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacob's was a wonderful read. The plot kept me wanting more. I definitely recommend reading this book.

THE PRINCESS KNIGHT by Cait Jacobs is a delightfully entertaining romp starring a princess who learns how to fight for herself.